Green Man - History
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Last updated: 19 August 2011
The Green Man Festival was started in 2003 by the well-known 'folktronica' duo It's Jo And Danny as an live outlet for some of their favourite acts on the left-field of folk, country, psych and indie.
It has grown quickly in both capacity and public recognition over the years, to become to the 10,000 capacity nationally-recognised event it is now.
In 2003, just 300 people attended at Craig Y Nos castle, with a line-up that included King Creosote, James Yorkston and Fernhill's Julie Murphy. The second festival moved to Baskerville Hall and the capacity was increased to 1000.
The line-up included Four Tet, Joanna Newsom, Alisdair Roberts and Fionn Regan, all playing in a venue which boasted both inside and outside spaces.
Green Man stayed at Baskerville Hall in 2005, but the capacity doubled to 2000 and the duration was extended to three days. Joanna Newsom once again played, this time joined by the likes of Bonnie Prince Billy and Adem.
2006 marked a turning point in the life of the festival with a large increase in capacity (this time to 6500) and coverage. The impressive line-up included Donovan, Jose Gonzalez, Calexico, Bat For Lashes and Marissa Nadler.
Yet another audience increase brought the 2007 capacity to 10,000 and established Green Man as one of the UK's foremost festivals; its line-up bolstered that reputation too. Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant headlined, as did Joanna Newsom and Pavement's Stephen Malkmus. Devendra Banhart, Bill Callahan, Vashti Bunyan and Seasick Steve also played.
A static year in 2008 brought 10,000 to Glanusk once more, this time for Spiritualized, Super Furry Animals, Pentangle, Richard Thompson and Iron And Wine among others.
Acts who played the 2009 event included Wilco, Bon Iver, Wooden Shjips, British Sea Power, Errors, Peggy Sue, Megson, Pivot, It's A Buffalo, She Keeps Bees, Golden Animals, 6 Day Riot, No Thee No Ess, Sound Carriers, Four Tet, Grizzly Bear, Dirty Three, Vetiver, Rodriguez, Andrew Bird, Joe Gideon & The Shark, The Phantom Band, Unicorn Kid, Beth Jeans Houghton and The Leisure Society.
2010 saw The Doves, Flaming Lips and Joanna Newsom joined by Wild Beasts, Girls, Steve Mason, Alasdair Roberts, An Horse, Bear In Heaven, Beirut, Billy Bragg, Caitlin Rose, Cass McCombs, Darwin Deez, Egyptian Hip Hop, Erland & The Carnival, Field Music, Fionn Regan, First Aid Kit, Fck Buttons, Henry's Funeral Shoe, Jack Northover, Je Suis Animal, John Smith, Lone Lady, Love Wolf, Matthew And The Atlas, Megafaun, Memory Tapes, Mountain Man, Neon Indian, O.Children, Pete Greenwood, Silver Columns, Simone Felice, Sleepy Sun, St Just Vigilantes, The Smoke Fairies, The Unthanks, The Wave Pictures, These New Puritans and Voice Of The Seven Thunders.
Some of the acts playing at 2011's sold-out festival include: Explosions In The Sky, Bellowhead, Robyn Hitchcock, The Cave Singers, Fleet Foxes, Noah And The Whale, She Keeps Bees, 9 Bach, Iron And Wine, Laura Marling, The Low Anthem, James Blake and Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog.
